My King ❈ NIKOLAI LANTSOV

s i x

I DIDN'T WALK BACK ALONE.

As much as I refused his offer to walk me back to my room, he stubbornly insisted. The corridors were filled with our laughter and when we reached my room, we simply stood at the door. 

"Am I not allowed in?" He joked. 

"No way. Speculations this close to the marriage?"

"Too risky?" He smirked. 

I laughed, "Thank you for accompanying me back."

"It was my pleasure. Thank you for helping me with the piles of paper work."

"Someone had to - it was already expanding on the floor!" I opened my door, as I responded. 

He smiled, before jokily sighing heavily, "Now leave me out here - on the other side of the closed door,  alone! Praising you to the dark!"

"Goodnight Nikolai!" I laughed. 

He winked, gently taking my hand before pressing a kiss to it softly, "Goodnight Princess."

I quickly spoke out before he could turn and walk away. "Why don't you use my first name?"

"Your first name was chosen for you. Your title is earned; and personally, I can't wait for it to change in two days time."

With another wink, he departed, leaving me wide eyed and surely red in the face. 

❈

Two days past in no time. I'd spent them walking the gardens with Zoya and Genya, with Nikolai occasionally joining me when alone. I soon found friends in the two women, and the latter man never could seem to stop flirting. We'd made a silent agreement to not talk about the marriage, and no other near-kiss happened. 

I was partly grateful, and partly frustrated. The tension between us, at least of my half, was agonising. I felt as though we were treading on thin ice; that would break any second. My mind was flooded with thoughts. 

Nikolai. Nikolai. 

Nikolai. 

He wouldn't get out of my head, and it was driving me insane. 

Wedding planning was hardly a big deal. All that happened was people asking me questions, requiring an answer from me. Still, it was the simplest of things. I doubted they would even dare ask what flowers I wanted along the aisle. 

Not having anytime to myself, the maids burst in. It took all morning to finish preparing me. Washed, dried, dressed, hair styled; it was exhausting. The dress was mostly lace, still fully covered by white fabric beneath. It rested on the tip of my shoulders, with a noticeable white ribbon around the waist, leading to a ballgown bottom. What finished it off was the train that flowed behind me. 

I couldn't believe that I was actually getting married. 

When the time came, my heart was thumping rapidly. My head was light, and my stomach was queasy. The music started, and my hands clutched each other, knowing the walk up the aisle would be the most suspenseful part. Putting one foot in front of the other, I was glad the veil covered my face. 

All eyes were on me. 

But my eyes were only on one person. 

He was standing before two thrones, and the priest. His clothes shone, the blonde of his hair lighting up every part of him. Completed with the golden crown on his head, I felt my breath catch. The distance between us lessoned as seconds past. When I was close enough, I noticed his eyes were wide, and his jaw was slightly ajar. A smile bloomed on his lips as I placed my slightly shaking hands in his. They were warm, and squeezed mine when they noticed the shaking. 

The ceremony flew by, we pledged our lives to each other, and to care for each other; eternally, and to love forever. His eyes meeting mine - even through the veil - made me loose all sense of time. When the priest announced that we were to kiss, I bit my lip. This was the part I was waiting for during the last two days. Our first kiss ever, and we would be husband and wife. 

I was his wife. And he was my husband. 

His hands left mine, reaching forward to lift the veil. I could now clearly see him. All of him. My breath caught in my throat. His hazel eyes didn't leave mine until my eyelids fluttered shut, Nikolai abruptly pressing his lips against mine. A hand snaked around my waist, bringing me closer to him. My hands fell naturally to his chest as our lips moved against each other's. I felt like every thing he did lit my body on fire. He eventually pulled back, leaving me breathing heavily. He smiled at me, removing his hands from my body, nodding as he stood back. 

Turning back to the priest, he took a crown from a nearby blue cushion, walking towards me. I repeated the pledge he said, urging myself not to stumble of the words. The sudden weight that came with the crown on my head made me gather my nerves. Sure, I was heavy, but the responsibility that came with one object... It was extreme. 

Standing tall, I turned back to the cheering crowd. Nikolai came forward, a smile unmoving on his lips as he offered me his arm and lead me down the aisle.